presented with some very
convincing evidence for a position. Both the Korean
and the American showed strong support. And after
they were given some
evidence opposing the position, the Korean started to modified or decreased
their
support. However, the American began to give more support to the former
argument. This project suggested
that in Korean culture, support for
arguments is based on context. Ideas and conclusions are changeable and
flexible, so an individual may be more willing to change his or her mind. For Americans, they were less
willing to change their original conclusion.
F. Bessett and Ara devised an experiment to test the thought processing of both
oriental and
occidental worlds. Test subject was given an argument “All
animals with furs hibernate. Rabbit has fur.
Therefore, rabbit hibernate”.
People from the eastern world questioned the argument as not being logical,
because in their knowledge some furry animals just don’t hibernate. But the American think the statement is
right. They assume the logic deduction is based on a correct argument, thus the conclusion is right since the
logic is right.
G. From these early experiments in the Soviet Union, one might conclude that our
original premise
that culture can impact the way we think was still correct.
However, recent research criticises this view, as
well as Bessett’s early
experiments. Though these experiments changed the original belief on thought
processing, how much does it result from all factors needs further discussion. Fischer thinks Bessett’s
experiments provide valuable information because his research only provides qualitative descriptions, not
results from controlled environment. Chang partly agrees with him, because there are some social factors
that might influence the results.
